Elevating traveling conveyer



Dec. 11, 1951 p, s, HARDY I 2,577,891

ELEVATING TRAVELING CONVEYER Filed Sept. 14, 1948 '11 VVENTOR. P650 1.). Handy ATTORNEY! Patented ec. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES Application September-.14,

12, Claims. (Cl. 1 98=-118);

This invention relates to traveling overhead conveyors for receiving material from pointsad .iacent the floor level; and delivering it to loca. tions substantially elevated above the 1100 The invention isconcerned with improvements in the conveying apparatus .for foundries, dis; closed and claimed in my copending; application Serial No. 765A76 'filed August 1, 19.47, andnow abandoned entitled MoldersSand Cutting and Conveying.

In the device of thiscopending.application,anv elevating conveyor is supported above the floor surface by a supportingframe or carriage which travels on overhead tracks whereby theconveyor may be shifted to diiferentlocationsin the foundry, to lift sand frompoints adjacent the. floor. to elevated hoppers. The elevating conveyor of. this deviceis maintained in a predetermined up-. wardly extending/fixed angular positionbythe supporting frame which rides on the overhead tracks, and the lower end of the conveyor can not be raised with respect to the floor, to enable it to clear objects resting on the -floor, for eXam-.- ple, when it is being shifted to different loca.-. tions.

According to the'present invention'this limita.- tion of the apparatus of my copending application is overcome, by the provision of=a novel, improved support for the elevating conveyor whereby its lower end maybe swung upward; away K from the floor, to enable it to clear objects-on the floor, when the conveyor is to; be shiftedto a diiierent 1ocation It isaccordingly an object of the inventionto provide anrimproved, pendent elevatingconveyor structure and support therefor, which structure may be, securely locked and rigidly en-mopwardly extending operative position wherein its lower end is adjacent the floor surface and; wherein it is firmly supported for operation, the'said structure being quickly and conveniently swingable from said operative position soas to raise itslower end away from the floor surface, thereby to clear. objects supported on said surface Another object or, the invention is to provide an. improved pendent elevating conveyor structure as characterized above, which is extrernely simple and sturdy in construction, and is economicalto fabricate... v

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved elevatingconyeyor accordingto the. above, which is very easy to operate to raise. the lower end. of the. conveyor. from the 1109 11. surface, despite the weight of the 'conveyor pg Yet another object of'the. invention to y o" material; suchas... sand: from a; br

194 i naimbt ezsot 2; Y d mimpr v d ele ai e qnv y r ar W ized as above, which aft'e'r beingoplerated to raise by a simple'rn, v swing s7 the conveyor i are c ear; o lojject's on ef Qrj qr aq A feature of the inventionis;the;pr0yision of." an improved convey upporti'ng m an. bov whi m trutturalfil meni .4 t e ,w @1. ar r. d lr. ayeil b e omm rcianyi other fea ures a ..r d ent sswi lhere. ap ea n th. accompany n ,qr w nmi Fi ures; and

i in pparatus; il

The elevating. conveyor; ljl whi ch may be .con structed. as.;disclosed.; in; my; copending; l i tion aboveireferredto, has alhop l ingw-h maybe deposited; the sandpassingt a contil u ous chain..l3; having; bucke s L4 whereby it lifted and: carried to the; topv QfYthQ-CQIA QYQL According to the present invention a;noyel conveyor IE3.- wherebye the latter; may. be. carried; in the operativeposition.shoyvnabove;the-n surface 1 I and. may. be suspended. from overh rails I 5 and shifted therealong; to different. 1oca tions inthe foundry, thesupporting means bein lower-end thereof to be raised: andimovedaawayj from the floor. surface LI, thereby to .clear. objeotst. supported'on 'said surface;

As shown, thissuppor-ting means comprisesa.

m carriage-It formed of angle irons. or similar: structural members; the. carriage having Us simplicity of illustration, it will be understood that there are at least four sets, two sets being on each rail l5, and that all of the four brackets l1 and the wheels l8 carried thereby are mounted on the carriage It, the latter being rectangular in configuration as viewed from above. The carriage I6 may be made in any desired manner, and as shown comprises bars formed of iron angles l9 located back-to-back, each pair of angles constituting a transverse structural member extending between the rails I5. The iron angles l9 at their extremities are connected together by longitudinally extending angles 20, which constitute the front and rear structural members of the carriage.

A plurality of angle bars 2| extends angularly downward from the rear ends of the transverse members |9 of the carriage l5, and a second plurality of angle bars 22 extends angularly downward and rearward from the front ends of the transverse members I9, the lower extremities of the members 2| and 22 of each pair being connected together by a pintle bar 23 which passes through brackets 24 secured to the rigid frame structure 25 of the conveyor It. By this organization a pivotal connection is provided between the depending'structural members 2| and 22 (at the lower extremities thereof) and the conveyor frame 25 intermediate the ends of the latter. This pivotal connection enables the conveyor It to be swung about the pintle 23 to a position (shown in broken outline) wherein the lower end of the conveyor is raised a substantial distance above the floor surface II. It will be understood that the conveyor It may be shifted to other positions than that shown, wherein the end is either higher or lower than indicated.

In accordance with the invention a, novel, simplified locking and actuating mechanism is provided, interconnected between the conveyor l9 and its supporting structure, whereby the conveyor may be quickly and conveniently, securely locked and rigidly held in the upright operative position shown, yet may be easily and quickly released and shifted to elevate 'the lower end thereof higher above the floor, to clear objects supported on the floor. This means comprises a toggle joint 26 consisting of a plurality of iron angle bars 21 pivotally connected to the conveyor frame 25 by means of brackets 29 and pivots, and further consists of a plurality of iron angle bars 29 pivotally connected to the front portions of the carriage It at 39, the bars.21 and 29 being pivotally connected together by pins 3| at their adjacent ends.

The angle bars 29 are connected together by cross members 32 adjacent their extremities, the

said members being also in the form of angle bars as may be readily seen. Actually, the toggle joint 26 is thus constituted of a plurality of toggle joints, which are interconnected to act simultaneously as a single toggle joint.

The pivot pins 3| are located a short distance from the lower extremities of the angle bars 29, and by this organization the cross members 32 at the lower extremities of the bars 29 are engageable with upper portions of the toggle bars 21 to cooperate therewith and function as stops. It is thus seen that the pivotal connection between the toggle bars 21 and 29 is in the form of a knee joint, since the toggle bars may be swung to the left from the broken line positions shown in Fig. 1 to the full line position shown (wherein they are aligned with each other) but may not be swung further to the left beyond the said aligned positions.

By the present invention a novel latch is pro vided whereby the toggle joint may be automatically locked when the bars thereof are shifted into alignment with each other, and may be easily and quickly released and the toggle bars simultaneously shifted to cause a raising of the lower end of the conveyor III. This improved latch comprises a plurality of latch arms 33 pivotally carried by plates 34 secured to the toggle bars 21 adjacent their upper extremities. The latch arms 33 are connected together by a cross bar 35, and have camming surfaces 36 engageable with the cross member 32 of the upper toggle bars 29 whereby the latch arms are cammed downward when the toggle bars are shifted toward their aligned positions. The toggle bars 21 have stops 31 against which the latch arms 33 are normally held by helical extension springs 38 when not locking the toggle members 21 and 29.

To facilitate the operation of swinging the conveyor III to raise the lower end thereof, a helical extension spring 39 is provided, having its ends connected to plate 49 respectively secured to the toggle bars 21 and 29. When the toggle joint is in alignment as shown, the spring 39 is under tension; if the toggle should be released by pulling the latch arms 33 downward the spring 39 will break the toggle and cause the conveyor I to swing counterclockwise wherein the lower end thereof will be raised to the position shown in the broken outline in Fig. 1.

It will be seen that the swinging of the conveyor Hi to raise the lower end thereof may be very easily and quickly accomplished, since it is merely necessary for an operator to grasp the handle or bar 35 of the latch arms and pull the handle downward and to the right. This will first unlock the toggle joint whereupon the spring 39 will come into action and will assist in the movement of the handle 35 and toggle bars 21 and 29 to the right until they reach the broken line position shown. Thus the swinging of the conveyor to raise the lower end is practically an effortless operation. Moreover, when it is desired to re-.

turn the conveyor to the operative position shown by the full lines in Fig. 1, it is merely necessary to push the handle 35 to the left until the toggle bars 21 and 29 are aligned, and then release the handle while maintaining the toggle bars in alignment. This operation is aided by the weight of the conveyor It, as will be readily understood, and therefore both operations may be carried out with a minimum of effort.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for conveying materials, an elevating conveyor extending upward from a point adjacent a floor surface; a depending conveyor supporting structure spaced and located above said floor surface; overhead tracks; means carrying said supporting structure on the tracks for movement along the same; a pivotal connection between the supportin structure and the conveyor whereby the latter is carried above the floor surface and is swingable to move its lower end toward and away from said surface; and a toggle joint connected between the supporting structure and the conveyor, maintaining the latter in operative, upward extending position with its lower end close to the floor surface, said joint when broken enabling the conveyor to be swung whereby the lower end thereof may be moved upward away from the floor surface to clear objects supported on said surface. l

armrest:

' 2 a Ifi anapparatus'for conveying materials; an

el'evating conveyor extending-u wardfrom a-point adjacent afloor surface; adepending f conveyor supporting structure spaced and located above said floor-surface a pivotal connection between thes'uppor-ting structureiandthe conveyor where by the latter is carried above the' floor surface: and is swingable I to move its lower end toward; and 'away from-said surface; a toggle-joint con nected between the supporting structureand: the conveyor, controlling the arcuate position of the: conveyor; releasable means locking the toggle joint in a predetermined position to maintainr-thei conveyor-in operative, upward extending position with. its lowerendclose to the floors-surface; said: means; when released: freeing thetoggle; joint whereby the lower end of. the'i conveyor: may: b'ea swung; upward away. from'rthe. floor surface to: clean objects supported on saidv surface; and. means" interconnecting; the frame and conveyor; tending. to swing the latter: ina direction to; raiseiits lower. end whenthetoggle joint issoutiof; alignment.

3; Inlan apparatus for conveying materialsam elevating, conveyor extendingiupwarda from apoint adjacent a floor surface; a depending; conveyorsupporting structure spaced; and located; above; said; floor s'urface a pivotal connectiombetween; the'sup'porting structure: and the'conveyor frame whereby the latter iscarriedabovethe floorisunface and is swingable to move its lower. end toward andaway from sald:surface;, altogglejoint connected between the supportingstructure and the conveyor frame, controlling thearcuate: position-of the conveyor; and releasable means comprising a latch, and comprising. stops-onthe toggle joint, locking the latter inextended, aligned position to maintain the conveyor. in operative up: ward extending position with its lower end close to the floor surface, said means when released freeing the toggle joint whereby it may be broken to enable the lower end of the, conveyor to be swung upward away from the floor surface, to clear objects supported on said surface.

4. In an apparatus for conveying materials, an

elevatingsconveyor extending-upward from a point adjacent a floor surface and having a rigid, elongate" conveyor frame; a dependingiconveyor-supporting structure spaced and. located above said floor surface, comprising a-plurality of rigid,in-

vented. triangular frames; a plurality of pivotal connections between said triangular frames and the conveyor frame whereby the conveyoris carried above the floor surface and is swingable to move its lower end toward and away from said surface; a toggle joint" co'nnec'ied-between the triangular frames and the conveyor frame, con:- trolling the arcuateposition of the conveyor; and releasable means locking the toggle joint im a predetermined position to maintain the conveyor in operative, upward extending position with its lower end close to the floor surface, said means when released freeing the toggle joint whereby the lower end of the conveyor may be swung upward away from the floor surface to clear objects supported on said surface.

5. In an apparatus for conveying materials, an elevating conveyor extending upward from a point adjacent a floor surface; a depending conveyorsupporting structure spaced and located above said floor surface, comprising a plurality of rigid, inverted triangular frames; a plurality of pivotal connections between the triangular frames and the conveyor whereby the latter is carried above the floor surface and is swingable to move its lewenenditoward:and:awa firom'saidsurface; er. plurality of: toggletjointsconnected: together-for: simultaneous; movement: and, connected. between thee triangular frames; and; the: conveyor; Q0117 trolling the.arcuateposition ZOfIthB: conveyor; and: releasablez-meansilockinggthe' to lejoints in -pre;- determined. positions to; maintain; the conveyor; in; operative; upward extending position, with: its; lowerend' closeto the floor surface, said'means; when releasedfreeing thestoggle joints whereby;- the: lower end.:oftthe;conveyor may be swungupwardiawayfromthe floor surface to clear-obrjCCtST-SUDPOItBd onsaidsurface;

' 6; In arr apparatus for conveying materials; an

;: elevatingconveyor;extending upward from a point;

adjacent; a floor. surface avdepending conveyor. supporting; structure spaced and located above; said: floorrsurface; l overhead tracks means carry-- saidzsupporting structure-on the tracks for movement; alongthe same; a pivotal connection: between the supporting structure and the, cone veyor whereby: the latter is carried above thefioor: surface.- and is swingable to move its lower endf toward and away from said surface; a to gle; joints connected between. the supporting structure and the. conveyor, controlling; the arcuate posi,.- tiomofi the conveyor; and releasable means locks ing, the; toggle; joint in predetermined position to maintain the conveyor inoperative, upward;,ex.--

tending, position, withits lower end close to. the;

floor surface, said means when released freeing, the; toggle joint whereby the lower end of the;- oonveyorrmay be swungi upward, away from thefioon surface; to clear objects supported on said, surface;

7:. In. an, apparatus for conveying materials, ant elevating conveyor extending upward from arlpoint adjacent afloor space; a depending C0119 veyor-supporting structure. spaced and located; above said floor surface; a pivotal, connection; betweenthe supporting structure and the con-- veyor whereby the latter is carried above the floor surface and is swingable to move. its lower; end. toward andaway from said surface; a tog-- glee joint. connected, between the supporting structure and the conveyor, controlling the arcuate; position of the conveyor; and releasable means; locking; the toggle joint in a predeter mined position; to maintain the conveyor in operative, upward extending position with its; lower end close" tothe-floor surface, said means; when released freeing the, toggle joint whereby; the: lower: end of the conveyor may be swung; upward away-fromthe floor surfacetoclear obi-- iects. supported onsaid surface.

8..In,. an apparatus for conveying materials, arr elevating: conveyor; extending upward from a; point adjacentaafioor surface; a depending; con-= veyor-supporting structure spaced and located above said floor surface; a pivotal connection between the supporting structure and the conveyor whereby the latter is carried above the floor surface and is swingable to move its lower end toward and away from said surface; a toggle joint comprising a pair of toggle bars connected between the supporting structure and the conveyor, controlling the arcuate position of the conveyor; releasable means including stops on the toggle bars, and including a latch arm pivotally carried by one toggle bar, locking the toggle bars in aligned positions to maintain the conveyor in operative, upward extending position with its lower end close to the floor surface, said means when released freeing the toggle joint whereby the lower end of the conveyor may be swungupward away from the floor surface to veyor-supporting structure spaced and located, above said floor surface; a pivotal connection be,-

tween the supporting structure and the conveyor whereby the latter is carried above the floor surface and is swingable to move its lower end toward and away from said surface; a toggle joint comprising a pair of toggle bars connected between the supporting structure and the .conveyor, maintaining the latter in operative, upward extending position with its lower end close to the floor surface, said joint when broken enabling the conveyor to be swung whereby the lower end thereof may be moved upward away from the floor surface to clear objects supported on said surface; and means including an extension spring interconnecting the toggle bars, tending to swing the conveyor in a direction to raise its lower end when thetoggle joint is out of alignment.

10. In an apparatus for conveying materials, an elevating conveyor extending upward from a point adjacent a floor surface; a depending conveyor-supporting structure spaced and lo cated above said floor surface; a pivotal connection between the lower portion of the supporting structure and the conveyor intermediate the ends of the latter whereby the conveyor is carried above the floor surface and is swingable to move its lower end toward'and away from said surface; a toggle joint connected between the supporting structure and the conveyor adjacent the lower end thereof, controlling the arcuate position of the conveyor; and means holding the toggle joint in a predetermined position to maintain the conveyor in operative, upward extending position with its lower end close to the floor surface, said means being operable to free the toggle joint whereby the lower end of the conveyor may be swung upward away from the floor surface to clear objects supported on said surface.

11. In an apparatus for conveying materials, an elevating conveyor extending upward from a point adjacent a floor surface and sloping backward; a depending conveyor-supporting structure in front of the conveyor, spaced and located above said floor surface; a pivotal connection between the lower portion of the supporting structure and the conveyor intermediate the ends of the latter whereby the conveyor is carried above the floor surface and is swingable to move its lower end forward and upward, or backward and downward; a toggle joint located in front of the conveyor and supporting structure and connected therebetween, said toggle joint controlling the arcuate position of the conveyor; and means holding the toggle joint in a predetermined position to maintain the conveyor in operative, upward extending position with its lower end close to the floor surface, said means being operable to free the toggle joint whereby the latter is foldable forwardly to cause the lower end of the conveyor to swing forward and may be swung upward away from the floor surface,

thereby to clear objects supported on said sur-,

face.

. 12. In an apparatus for conveying materials, an elevating conveyor extending upward from a point adjacent a floor surface; a depending conveyor-supporting structure spaced and located above said floor surface; overhead tracks; means carrying said supporting structure on the tracks for movement along the same; a pivotal connection between the supporting structure and the conveyor frame whereby the latter is carried above the floor surface and is swingable to move its lower end toward and away from said surface; a toggle joint connected between the supporting structure and the conveyor frame, controlling the arcuate position of the conveyor; and releasable means comprising a latch. and comprising stops on the toggle joint, locking the latter in extended, aligned position to maintainthe conveyor in operative, upward extending position with its lower end close to the floor surface, said means when released freeing the toggle joint whereby it may be broken to enable the lower end of the conveyor to be swung upward away from the floor surface, to clear objects supported on said surface during movement of said supporting structure along said tracks.

PETER S. HARDY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record, in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

